True, effectual, heart-felt, life-changing prayer modeled by Daniel is something rare in America's popular, Christian culture.  God's people and churches need to imitate the powerful and practical prayer life of Daniel of old.  True Christianity is an absolute and total dependence upon Christ and His promises.  Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5)!  With Him, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13)!  Prayer--private or public, verbalized or silent, planned or extemporaneous, with head bowed and eyes closed or walking with head up and eyes open, is the life-blood, the only way that a Christian can truly exist on this earth.  Many complain about prayer being removed from American public schools, and yet we find that a similar decree to outlaw prayer was made in the days of Daniel, and he continued praying.  You cannot keep a true Christian from prayer.  Because if you did, he would die.  Our prayer life is not determined by our surrounding circumstances, rather by our union with Christ, our utter dependence upon Him, and our inability to persevere in the Christian walk alone.  We need God at all times and in all circumstances.  Oh, that our elevated and self-sufficient hearts would learn the reality of this truth.  Oh, that our hearts would be humbled before our great and glorious God.  Without Him we know nothing, we have nothing, we can do nothing, and we are nothing!

Though Daniel was an aged man (probably about 80 years old), an elderly statesman, a ruling prince, and a wise man in the Scriptures, Daniel was completely dependent upon his God, seeking his face faithfully every evening, morning, and noon (Daniel 6:10; Psalm 55:17).  A divine vision in Daniel 8 revealing the world dominion of the Medes and Persians, the Greeks, and ultimately the Roman empire rule with all of their cruelties toward the Jewish nation, left Daniel troubled, faint, weak, and sick (Daniel 8:27).  In Daniel 9, we see Daniel crying out to God for his beloved nation and the answer that God sent him.  Though most commentators and commentaries give the major amount of attention to the divine, prophetic answer found in verses 24 through 27, the Spirit of God calls our attention to Daniel and his prayer by devoting virtually five times as many verses to his prayer than to the prophetic answer he received.

Notice carefully what motivated Daniel to seek the Lord in true, effectual prayer.  First, he was motivated by the providential circumstances in his life.  The Babylonians had been conquered.  His Mede and Persian comrades sought to bring false accusation against him with the desire to remove him from his favored place of authority.  He also received a new prophetic vision that troubled his heart.  These were motivating factors to pray.  The providential circumstances in our lives should bring about motivation to pray.  You expectantly meet up with a childhood friend...that's motive to pray.  Your community or state is hit with a supernatural act of God....that's motive to pray to seek God on behalf of the suffering and that through suffering hearts will be turned to God and His salvation.  As the sailors of old read the skies, the child of God needs to read and discern the providence of God on a daily basis.  Why has God allowed this to happen?  What is God trying to communicate through these unusual circumstances?  All of God's providential circumstances ought to move our hearts to true, effectual prayer.

Secondly, Daniel was motivated to effectual prayer through the study of the Word of God.  No doubt, he was reading from the inspired writings of Jeremiah:  "And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation...." (Jeremiah 25:11-12)  "For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you..." (Jeremiah 29:10).  All Bible study should lead us to a life of dependence and calling upon God.  What we learn in the Scriptures, should be energized by heart-felt, effectual prayer that we may practice that which the Lord teaches us.  Bible study reveals sin, unfaithfulness, wrong motives, and incomplete obedience.  Bible study teaches us to walk in Christ´s steps, walk in the Spirit and not to fulfill the lusts of the flesh, to walk circumspectly, to walk in love, and to walk without offense.  Whether Bible study reveals shortcomings in our lives or the necessary steps to spiritual maturity, it ought to drive us to our knees in earnest prayer.

Thirdly, Daniel was motivated to effectual prayer by the promises of God.  God promised that the captivity would only last 70 years.  God promised to visit His people.  God promised to judge the Babylonians.  God promised to bring His people once again to their native land.  Daniel´s heart was cheered and encouraged by the promises of God.  Daniel was praying according to the sovereign will of God in heaven that it would come to pass on the earth (Matthew 6:10).  God´s great and precious promises are strong motivators to true, effectual prayer.  It gives confidence and earnestness knowing that we are praying not to change God or His will, but we are praying in accordance with them (1John 5:14-15).  True, effectual prayer transforms us so that we are completely centered and contented in the will of God and its coming to pass.

Fourthly, Daniel was motivated to effectual prayer by his own inability to change his circumstances to bring them in line with the promises of God.  No matter how much we understand concerning God´s will, we are desperately unable to effect the changes necessary by ourselves or in the flesh.  Our utter inability should cause to us to fall prostrate before heaven and earth's Potentate and beseech that He would intervene and change our culture, our nation, our family, our circumstances, according to His eternal will and for His glory.

May God motivate our hearts to true, effectual, heart-felt prayer.  May we passionately enter into prayer as Daniel did of old.  May all of the honor and glory be to Jesus Christ alone for teaching us to pray and to depend on Him more every day!